Indianapolis Colts QB Matt Ryan says 'time was right' for change after 14 seasons with Atlanta Falcons

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Matt Ryan thought he would be the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons or the Indianapolis Colts next season.

His desire to play for a different team for the first time in his 14-year career came last weekend after a call with Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich. The Falcons traded Ryan to the Colts for a third-round pick in this year's draft.

Ryan said Tuesday during his introductory news conference as the Colts that his passion, commitment, professionalism, and accountability Chris has for himself and what he does, Frank has for my situation of understanding being in a certain spot and done it for one way. I knew it was time to go in a different direction.

Ryan didn't know where he would be playing next season. The Falcons were one of the teams considering a trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, which would have ended Ryan's time in Atlanta. Ryan and the Falcons pushed his $7.5 million roster bonus that was due to him on Monday while they waited for a decision on his future. The Falcons had to decide what to do with Ryan after the no-trade clause was shorn of Watson.

Ryan said that it had been a "whirlwind of a week" for him. I have never been through a transaction or a roster move, which is commonplace and day to day for the majority of the locker room. I thought everyone handled it well from the beginning. I didn't like everything I heard, but you don't always like what you hear.

Ryan met with members of the Colts coaching staff Saturday after the Falcons and Colts started trade talks. The quarterback felt like it was time for a change after the meeting. Ryan was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 2016 after throwing for 361 touchdown in his career with the Falcons.

Ryan said that he was fortunate to have been with the Falcons for 14 years and that he wanted to start by thanking Blank. I am really grateful for my time there. It is sad to see it end, but I am excited to see what happens here. The team and organization are all about something. It is an exciting day for me and my family.

Johnny Unitas, Andrew Luck, and Philip Rivers are some of the top quarterbacks to play for the Colts. Ryan will be the sixth different quarterback to start Week 1 for the Colts.

The Colts hope Ryan is the next great quarterback to play for them, but also give them at least a couple of years in order to find his replacement. A source told Jeremy Fowler that the Colts restructured the final two years of Ryan's deal, with the $53.9 million left guaranteed in some form.

Ryan said that he would like to play as long as he can. Nobody has a crystal ball to know how long it will be, but I feel like I can play at a high level for as long as I want.

Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford both went on to win Super Bowls with their new teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Colts need to add more pieces to their offense in order to be a Super Bowl contender. The needs of the receiver, tight end and left tackle are high. The Colts have been to the playoffs twice.

Ryan said that he needs to pull his weight and do his job well. I have to be a great teammate, do the best I can, whatever I need to do to help the guys. I want to do my part to help the team win as many games as possible, and I am so fired up to get to work and get on the field with these guys.